Dough divider



June 20, 1944.

c. B. sEEM n DOUGH DIVIDER Filed June 1l, 1943 6 Sheets-Sheet l HIS ATTORNEYS June2o,1944.` c. B. SEEM 2,351,840

DOUGH DIVIDER INVENToR. CHARLES B SlflM I. l y Y c. 7k:

4H rs ATTORNEYS June 2o, 1944. c, B SEM 2,351,840

. DoUGH DIVIDER 'Filed 'June 11, 194s s sheets-sheet s ,-4 '-4 m m o JNVENToR. cHARLRs :5.52214 gg. ii

- HIS ATTORNEYS June 20, 1944.- c. B. SEEM l DoUGH DIVIDER 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed June 1l, 1945 l n JNVENTOR. CHARLES ,35 SEEN H Is ATTORNEYS` June 20, 1944. y Q B SEEM DoUGH DIVIDER Filed June 11, 1943 6 She'efcs-Sheet 5 INVENTOR. CHARLS B. S EN HIS ATTORNEYS June 2o, 1944. 4 C, B, @,EEMAA y 2,351,840

DOUGH DIVIDER y Filed June 11'. 194s lf5 sheets-sheet 6 ,66 91 e9 *uvm* e A A'51 sa 95 101 1oz 9v m M I 1 96 no1 9e 99- LQ. v9'? loo- V IN1/Emme.v

CHARLES 15. SEEN y i Hrs ATTORNEYS Patented June 20, 1944 DOUGH DIVIDER Charles B. Seem, Beacon, N. Y., assigner to Dutchess Tool Company, Inc., Beacon, N. Y., a

corporation of New York Application June 11, 1943, Serial No. 490,497

13 Claims.

This invention relates to dough dividers of the type wherein increments of dough are fed from a mass of dough in a hopper into a compression box or chamber from which they are transferred or forced into an oscillatory divider head having one or more scaling pockets therein which subdivide each increment into a number of lumps of dough which are later ejected onto suitable means for conveying the lumps to the next machine in which they are operated upon in the present-day commercial bakery.

The primary object of the invention is to provide a dough divider of this type whose over-all dimensions are practically reduced to a minimum and in which practically all of the mechanism is located within over-all dimensions of the machine frame, so that a stream-lined effect can be given to the machine as a whole by simply enclosing the frame in suitable closure plates.

In machines of this type, a reciprocatory knife is provided above the compression box for severing successive increments of dough deposited in the box from the mass of dough in the hopper and a reciprocatory plunger slidable in the compression box forces the successive increments of dough from the box into the scaling pockets of the divider head. A further object of the invention is to provide a simplified arrangement for imparting the reciprocatory motion to the plunger, the simplication of this reciprocating mechanism lending materially to the stream-lining of the machine as a whole, primarily, by reason of the fact that it is possible to actuate both the knife and the compression chamber plunger with a straight line action.

Another object is to transmit reciprocatory motion to the compression chamber plunger by a yieldable connecting rod which may be readily adjusted so that motion can be transmitted to the plunger, if desired, from a constantly driven cam or crank shaft having a fixed throw. More specically, the connecting rod between the crank shaft or cam and the plunger is of the dashpot type which serves several purposes in that it affords ideal control of pressures exerted on various types of dough handled in the machine and compensates for the travel of the fixed crank shaft throw, as well as for varying amounts of dough left in the compression chamber after the scaling pockets have been illed.

Machines of the present type also usually embody individual blccks or plungers slidable in the scaling pockets for discharging the lumps of dough from those pockets. These pocket blocks or plungers are adapted to be retracted in their respective pockets by the dough entering the latter from the compression box, and means are provided in the ordinary divider for limiting this retraction of the plunger, depending upon the size of the lumps of dough to be scaled in the pockets, and a further object of the present invention is to provide a simplified arrangement for adjusting or regulating the extent to Vwhich the blocks or plungers can be retracted in their individual pockets. More specifically, the invention contemplates an indexing mechanism for determining the position of the stop or stops for limiting the retraction of the plungers, which indexing mechanism is located within the over-all dimensions of the main frame of the machine, so that it does not detract from the stream-lined effect in the appearance of the machine.

For discharging the scaled lumps of dough from the scaling pockets, means are usually pro-k vided in dividers of this type for positively advancing the plungers in their pockets after the divider head has been oscillated to its discharge position, and a further object of the invention is to provide a simplied mechanism operable by the oscillatory motion of the divider head for imparting this advance movement to the plungers in their pockets. More specifically, the invention contemplates an assembly, so to speak, of the pocket plunger indexing mechanism and a portion of the plunger advancing mechanism that will lend to a reduction in the over-all dimensions of the machine, in that these instrumentalities are substantially located within the over-all dimensions of the machine frame itself.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists in certain details of construction and combinations and arrangements of parts, all of which will be hereinafter more fully described and the novel features thereof particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings, illustrating the preferred embodiment of the invention,

Figure l is a side elevational View of the ma- Y chine, portions being broken away to illustrate y interior parts;

Fig. 11 is a sectional view on the line l l-I i of Fig. 12 is a detail sectional View, taken longitudinally of the intermediate portion of the connecting rod for the compression box plunger; and

Fig. 13 is a detail view illustrating the mounting of the motor from which power is derived for operating the divider.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 2, the main frame of the divider comprises a base 2D mounted on suitable longitudinal sills 2! and what will be termed an upper platform 22, mounted on longitudinal angle bars 23. supported on the side members 24 of the main frame. The motor 25 for operating the divider is mounted on the base 2li, preferably adjacent the rear end of the machine, and power is delivered from the motor` by means of a V-belt 26, running in a vari-speed motor pulley 27, and a second pulley 28 which drives a speed reducer 29. Mounted on the platform 22 are bearing pedestals 33 in which there are journaled shafts 3|, 32. Shaft 3l is driven from the speed reduction mechanism by a sprocket chain 33, traveling around a sprocket 34 on shaft 3|, and a sprocket 35 on shaft 3S of the speed reducing mechanism. Similarly, motion is transmitted to shaft 32 by sprocket chain 31, traveling around a sprocket 38 on shaft 32, and a sprocket 39 on shaft 3S. Preferably, the shafts 3l 32 are retained in their bearings in the pedestals 33 by cap plates 4B. In accordance with customary practice, the hopper 4I for the dough is located adjacent the front of the machine and, as is understood, dough passes from the hopper into a compression box 42 from whence it is ejected by a plunger 43 into the scaling pockets 44 of the divider head 45. After the pockets for` the divider head have been filled with the proper amount of dough, said head is oscillated to move the pockets to their discharge position. Oscillation of the divider head is eiected by a crank 4S on shaft 3l, connected by rod 4l to an arm 48 on one of the trunnions .9 by which the divider head is journaled in its bearings 5i?, which are mounted on longitudinal members 5l of the main frame. For reciprocating 'the plunger 43 back and forth in the compression box 42, said plunger is connected to a second crank 52 on shaft 3l by a connecting rod that is formed of two sections 53, 53a, and the particular construction of which will be hereinafter described. As previously indicated, each increment of dough deposited in the compression box 132 is severed from the mass of dough in the hopper H by a knife 56 which is reciprocated by means of a cam 55 on shaft 32, said cam having a cam slot 5B therein, in which a cam roller 5l on a connecting link 58 engages, said link 53 being attached to the knife 54, so that, as the cam roller successively engages the high and low portions of the cam slot, the knife will be reciprocated back and forth beneath the hopper. It will be appreciated that the disposition of cranks 46 and 52 on shaft This platform 22 may also be 3l and the development of the cam slot 5S in cam 55 will be such that the knife 54 and the plunger 43 will be reciprocated and the divider head 45 oscillated in a properly timed sequence, whereby the knife will close the top of the compression boX somewhat in advance of the plunger being fully advanced in the box and the divider head will not be oscillated until after the plunger 43 has been fully advanced to deposit the required amount of dough in the several scaling pockets 44. It will be observed that all of these operating instrumentalities, from the prime mover or motor 25 through the several operating connections tothe knife 54, plunger 43 and divider head 45, are located within the over-all dimensions of the frame of the machine, so that the sides of thel machine may be enclosed in metal plates 53, while the rear of the machine below the platform 22 may be closed by a plate 60 which may have an opening therein with a removable closure for giving access to the motor and speed reducing mechanism. To encase or iii) house the several cranks and cam and the shafts 3i, 32, on which they are mounted, there is a hinged rear cover 6I hinged at 62, sothat it may readily be elevated to give access to the parts enclosed thereby. If desired, a window G3 may be provided in the rear wall of this hinged cover. As will appear from Fig. 2, this location of the motor and the several driving connections within the over-al1 dimensions of the frame and the application of the housing plates to the sides, top and rear of the frame give what is termed a stream-lined appearance to the machine as a whole.

The divider head is illustrated in Fig. l in its charging position, wherein the scaling pockets are in registry with the compression box 42. When the divider head is oscillated to the position shown in Fig. 3 for the discharge of the lumps of dough from the scaling pockets, said lumps are ejected from the pockets and dropped onto an endless conveyor 64 by which they are transferred to the next piece of apparatus in which they are to be treated. This conveyor and its driving connections are well known in the art and need not be described in detail. Suffice it to say that power for said driving connections is taken off from shaft 3E of the speed reducer by a sprocket chain 6B, traveling around a sprocket 35 on shaft 36, and a sprocket 6l on shaft 68, which carries a bevel gear meshing with a second gear 63 mounted on shaft 10 (see Fig. 1).

As is usual in dough dividers of this type, each of thescaling pockets 44, whether there be one or more of such pockets, has a so-called block or plunger 'H slidable therein, said blocks or plungers usually being provided with stems 12 eral pockets and the divider head moved to its In order to head to' its discharge positon,lare provided for advancingthelplurigersin theA pockets. wThe ar- ,rangement for lcontr'olling the retractive movement of thelscaling pocket plungers, and 'the mechanismfor advancing .those plungers, in the .present machine, is shown in detail in Figs.- to

'11. 4Journale'din bearings I'I5 of bearing yoke Vlil a shaft TS, and mounted on said shaft is an vejector bar "l1 in which there is mounted a num- .ber of ejector plates 73 corresponding tothe number-of scaling pockets and plungers, At one end, the right hand endas viewed in Figs-5 and 6, the ejector bar Tl is providedwith a plate 19 havinga bearing 80 thereinfor a' camroller 8l,

and mountedon the bearing for the trunnion -of the divider head there is a plate 82 adapt;

'43 advances', the dough enterinf`t the pockets Vcauses the'scaling pocket plungers 'i i' to be pushed back or retracted until theyreach their inner'- -vider head is then'o'scillatedj to position the pock- `ets in their"discharging'` position as shownin Fig. 8; Duringthelatter part oi this oscillatory motion of the vdivider head, cam roller 8| will Vmost positions, as 'in'dicated in Fig.` 10, The diwith an voperating crankor handle 9i and, by r'otating'shaft 'inlonc directionor the other, thescre'w' 85 may bek run in or out of the bushing 86, so as to adjust the stop plate Sd'longitudinally of-the scaling pockets tot., Thus, thefextent .to

`which the ejector bar can be rocked .on shaft fh may be regulated by vadjusting'the stop :plate 84 and, as will be apparent particularly from l0, 'the limit tc which the ejectorplate ll-'can-be rocked by reason of the extension of plate `l!! 'engaging stop ddetermines the extent to'which the plungers 'Il caribe retracted or pushed back inthe scaling pockets, :because the stems of said .plungers engage'againstthe ejectors i8 on fthe ejector bar. Pls an .index to the relative vposition to the stop plate Sd, said stop carries an index ybar 92 slidable in the-abutments Bl', and said bar 92 maybe providedl with a' series ci .graduations adapted to be readin conjunction ivithanfindex or pointer 953 mounted between the abutrnerits.

By having the stop plate 34%,' by which therel traction ofthe scaling pocket plungers is icon'-A trolled, carried on oneof the trunnions of the di; vider head, and vbyfha'vingthe cam 82, by which the` ejectors are actuated to advance the scaling pocket plungers'mounted onthe bearing in which that divider head trunnion' is journaled, these instrurnentalities occupy a comparativelyvv small space anddo not interfere'fwith the so-called stream-lining of the machine as a whole. 'Alsoi by having the index-adjusting Wheel `or 4crank 'engage the ca'rnBZ' and cause .the ejector bar Il tobe rocked onthegshafthl, as shown in Fig. 8,

with the result that this rnovernentofthe eiectors relatively to' the bearing yoke and the .divider head as va whole 'will advance the plungers 'M -in theirpockets vto `expel the lumps) 'of dough therefrom. On theI return oscillatory motion of Ythe dijide1.liead, the plungers'fiifwillIremain in their advanced' position until then'ext' increment of dough is` ior ced from the compression box into the pockets, andthe ejector bar may either return to its loriginal position by gravity or be 'returned to that position as the next increment of dough is orcedinto the pockets, by reason oi the ends ofthe plunger stems engaging 'the ejectors 1S, as shown in Fig. 9. The so-called ejectorsls are preferablyseparable frorn the s `ejector bar` l'i ,being removably attached thereto by bolts 83,1inorderto permit adjustment .ofthe 'ejectors on'the ejector bar to insure alinement of them with the plunger-s' l5; which may be provided with enlarged heads 12a to afford .a larger bearing area forthe ejecto'rs 18., Tolirnit the inward orretractive movement of the plungers ll under theiniluence ofdoughenr tering the scaling pockets from the compression box, there is an; adjustablestop plate 3d against which an extension 85 .on plate l@ at the end of the ejectorbarli'l engagesgas best illustrated in Fig. l0. Infor'der, to conserve space and lend to the streamlining of thema-chine as a whole. this stop platelwhich is comparatively narrouuis preferablycarried on a screw 85, and said screw is threaded into a bushing or sleeve 86 journalefl in abutments-or extensions 8l on the trunnion of the divider head which is journaled in the bearing on which carn plate 82 is mounted. This trunnion of the divider head is of tubular construction (see Fig; l1) and .iournaled therein and disposed axially thereof is a shaft 88 having a worm8 9 lthereon meshing with a Worm wheel Slt keyed to the bushing 86. g Shaft 88 is provided 9| and theA shaft operated thereby journaled in the tubularv end section of the divider head trunl nion, it is located in a fixed' location, as .distim guishedI from those types of machines wherein "it 'oscillates back and forth with the divider head; which is highly dangerous and involvesfhazards to the-operator. Further, by having the adjust-A ing screw for the stop plate 'Mend the index bar 92 for said plate slidably mounted in -th trunnion of the divider head, said screw and bar can fbe disposed lengthwise of the machinefor lengthwise of the scaling pockets, so as notito project-beyond the sides of the frame, where'it would not only interfere with the stream-lining of the machine, but it would also require greater care vonthe part vof the attendantc in moving aroundY the machine while operating the saine. As previously indicated, the connecting bar be# tween the compression box plunger 43 andthe actuating cam for thelatter is of sectional construction. This is for the purpose of providing a resiilent'connection and a readily adjustable connection between said cam and the compresision box plunger in order to prevent excessive pressures` being exerted on the dough .as itis forced into scaling pockets and in order that the operation of the plunger can' be readily varied to control the pressure exerted by the plunger on variousv types ofdough, it being appreciated that the plasticity of aeration of diierent batches of dough or types of dough vary greatly one from the other. AS best shown in Fig.A 12, one section of the-,plunger connecting rodhas a por;- tion thereof in the formof a cylinder M andthe other section vcomprises a piston slidable .in

said cylinder.V In the present instance, cylinder 94 is formed in section 53a andthe piston 95 is carried on section 53. In the wall of the cylinder 94, there is a duct 9S which extends'from one end of the cylinder to a valve chamber'l and latedby a screwy |00. Normally, when the piston 95 isfully retracted, as shown in Fig. 12, cylinder 94 and duct 96 is filled With'liquid so that the two sections 53 and 53a constitute substantially a solid structure so far as thrust strainson section 53 are concerned. However, when the pressure exerted by the compression box plunger on the dough being forced into pockets exceeds the pressure by which valve 98 is held seated by its spring 99, said valve will be unseated and permit uid to escape from the forward portion of cylinder 94 through duct 9 6 to the rear side of the piston 95. Thus, the connecting rod can yield and avoid the imposition of excessive pressures on the dough which may be detrimental to the texture. thereof. As will also be readily appreciated, the pressure with which the dough is forced from' the'pressure box into the scaling pockets can be varied simply by adjusting the screw |09 to either relieve the pressure with which ball valve 98 is held seated, or to increase that pressure. In other words, if it is desired to subject the dough to` less pressure, ,spring 99 will be relieved and, on the other hand, if it is desired to use aY greater pressure in forcing the dough into the scaling pockets, screw |09 will be adjusted to impose a greater pressure on ball valve 98 through spring 99./ During the retraction of thecompression box plunger, any liquid that has been by-passed throughk duct 96 can escape from the rear of the piston through ducts |91 in the piston. These ducts are normally closed by a disc valve |02 loosely secured to the front face of the piston by a headed screwor thelike |03, it' being understood that, when the piston 95 is being advanced, the disc |02 will be seated against the front face of the npiston, and, when the piston is being retracted, said disc is free to be displaced from against theface of the piston to open the ducts I 0|.

As previously described, it is preferred that the motor 25 drive the various instrumentalities through the vari-speed pulley 2l. As is well understood, inthe use of such ay pulley the motor is-slidableon its base and, as shown more particularly in Figs. 1j. vZand 13, the motoris adapted to-bemovedvback and forth on its base byascrew |04f journa'ledA in the motorA basel and provided with ai sprocket |95 around which a sprocket ch'ain` 96 passes; This sprocket chain also passes arounld sprockets |01, |08, rotatably mounted on theinner side of the casing and one of Which is adaptedto be turned by a hand wheel |99, preferably located adjacent the front end ofthe machine, so that the attendant, without leaving that end 4ofthe machine, may readily adjust the motor on'itsfbase. Usually, an indicating mechanism', shown in dotted'lines at H0 (Fig. 2), is connected'to this control for Vadjusting the motor on its'base; so that`the attendant can readily de,- ternine the speed of the vari-speed pulley.

What I claim" is:

.L. In a' dough divider comprising a hopper; a compression box in which dough is deposited from said? hopper, a divider head and a plunger for forcing dough from said box intosaid head, the,

combination of means for reciprocating said plunger comprising a tubular section havinga fluidf therein and a second section havinga pistony thereon slidable in said tubular section, and means for by-passing fluid in the tubular section from the front of said piston to the rear thereof when a' predetermined pressure is exerted on d'ouglfiin the compression box by' said plunger.

2,.InaV doughdi-vider comprisingV a hopper', a;

compression boxy in which doughis, deposited from said hopper, a' divider head'and a plunger forforcing dough from said box into said head, the combination of means for reciprocating said plunger. comprising a tubular` section having va uid therein and a second section having a piston thereon slidable in said tubular section, means for luy-passing nuid in the tubunr section from the front of said piston to the rear thereof when a predetermined pressure is exerted on dough in the compression box by saidplunger, and means for varying the pressure required to by-pass iluid in said tubular section.

3. In a dough divider comprising a hopper, a compression box in which dough is deposited from said hopper, a divider head and a motor actuated plunger for forcing dough from said box into said head, the combination of means for reciprocating saidplunger comprising a tubular section having a fluid therein and av second section having a piston thereon slidable in said tubular section, means for by-passing fluid inthe tubular section from the front of said piston to the rear thereof when a predetermined pressure is exerted on dough in the compression box by said plunger, and nonyielding driving connections between said motor and said second section of the plunger reciprocating means.

4. In a dough divider comprising a divider head, a compression box and a plunger for forcing dough from said box into the divider head, means for reciprocating said plunger comprising a. motor driven cam and a sectional connecting rod attached to said plunger and operable by said cam, one section of said rod constituting a cylinder and the other section constituting a piston slidable in the cylinder, means for by-passing iiuid from the cylinder to the rear of the piston when the latter is advanced, and means for returning the by-passed fluid through the piston as the latter is retracted.

5. In a dough'divider having an oscillatory head with scaling pockets therein and plungers slidable in said pockets, trunnions on said head, bearings in which said trunnions are journaled, a stop carried by one of said trunnions for limiting retractionrof the plungers in their pockets, said stop comprising a stem carried by said trunnion, and means disposed axially of said trunnion for moving said stem longitudinally to adjust said stop relatively to said pockets andplungers.

6. In a dough divider having an oscillatory head with pockets therein and plungers slidable in said pockets, trunnions on said head, bearings in which said trunnions are journaled, abutments on one of said trunnions, a stop for limiting retraction of the plungers in their pockets, said stop `having a stem threaded in a sleeve rotatable in said abutments, and means carried in said trunnion for rotating said sleeve.

7. In a dough divider having an oscillatory head with scaling pockets therein and plungers slidable in said pockets, a trunnion' on one end of said head, a bearing in which said trunnion is journaled', a sleeve carried by said trunnion disposed longitudinally of the pockets, a'stop having an extension threaded into said sleeve, said stop being adapted to limit the retraction of the plungers in their pockets, a worm shaft journaled axially of said trunnion, a worm on'said shaft, and a worm wheel on said sleeve engaging said Worm whereby said sleeve can be rotated to adjust said extension and stop lengthwise of the sleeve and pockets. v

8. In a dough divider having an oscillatory divider head with a plurality of` scaling pockets therein and plungers slidable in said pockets, bearings in which said head is journaled, a shaft carried on said head, an ejector bar pivoted on said shaft for advancing the plungers in their pockets, a cam member plate at one end of said bar, a cam member on said plate, a cam surface on one of said bearings engageable by said cam member for rocking the e'jectorbar on its shaft, and a stop at one end of said head engageable by the cam member plate for limiting retractive movementI of the ejector bar and plungers.

9. In a dough divider having an oscillatory divider head with a plurality of scaling pockets therein and plungers slidable in said pockets, bearings in which said head is journaled, a shaft carried on said head, ejectors journaled on said shaft engageabie with said plungers for advancing the latter in their pockets, a plate rigid with said ejectors, a cam roller journaled on said plate,

a cam surface fixed with respect to said head and engageable by said cam roller upon oscillation of said head to rock said plate and ejectors in one direction to advance said plungers, and a stop Y engageable by said plate when said ejectors are rocked in the opposite direction to limit retractive movement of the ej ectors and plungers.

10. In a dough divider having an oscillatory divider head with scaling pockets therein and plungers slidable in said pockets, a shaft carried by said head, an ejector bar journaled on said shaft, ejectors on said bar engageable with the plungers, a plate formed integrally with one end of said bar, astop engageable by said plate for limiting rocking movement of the bar and ejectors on said shaft in one direction, a cam member on said plate, and a cam surface engageable by said cam member for rocking said bar and ejectors in the opposite direction,

11. In a dough divider having an oscillatory divider head with scaling pockets therein and plungers slidable in said pockets, trunnions at opposite endsfof said head, bearings in which said trunnions are journaled, a shaft carried by said head, an ejector bar mounted for rocking movement on said shaft, ejectors on said bar engageable with said plungers, a stop engageable by said bar for limiting rocking movement of the bar in one direction, means for rocking said bar in the opposite direction for advancing the plungers in their pockets, and means carried in one of said trunnions for adjusting said stop longitudinally of the pockets.

l2. In a dough divider comprising a hopper, an oscillating divider head at the front of said hopper, a compression box below the hopper, a knife for severing dough in the box from dough in the hopper, a -plunger for transferring dough from the box to said divider head, operating cranks and a cam controlling said knife and plunger, shafts on which said cranks and cam are mounted,

and motor driven connections for rotating said v shafts, the combination of a main frame comprising upper and lower supporting platforms, bearings on the upper platform for said shafts, said motor for said driven connections being mounted on the lower platform, all of said elements consisting of said platforms, shafts, cams and cranks, motor and motor driven connections being positioned within the area defined by the overall dimensions of said main frame, lower vclosure plates extending, from the lower platform up to the upper platform at the sides and rear of the constant drive connections for said cam shafts, y

cams on said shafts, and connections between said cams and said knife, plunger and head for actuating said elements, characterized by the connection for said plunger comprising telescoping sections having a body of duid interposed therebetween and valve means for venting fluid from between said telescoping sections to compensate vfor excessive pressures imposed on the dough by said plunger.

CHARLES B. SEEM. 

